Cotton compress



Oct. 2, 1934. i w. M. SEELIGSON 1,975,295

" COTTON COMPRESS Filed April 22, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N H S N I NI N] l m 1 3 7H A F. E l

INV TOR. zd/

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 2, 1934. w. M. SEELIGSON COTTON COMPRESS Filed April 22, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

Oct. 2, 1934. w. M. SEELIGSON COTTON COMPRESS Filed April 22. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES PVATEN r OFFICE This invention relates to railway cotton ginning systems, wherein the primary cleaning units, cotton gins and power supplying units are arranged in railway cars in their order of operation and function and the invention has particular reference to an improved cotton compress, primarily designed for use in connection with a railway cotton ginning system and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved cotton compress, capable of compressing cotton to a high density for convenience in handling which renders the invention valuable for use in connection with a cotton ginning system of the character specified, especially in view of its compact and sturdy construction, permitting it to be operated in a minimum of space with a high degree of efficiency.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved cotton compress, the

frame structure of which is designed to withstand and concentrate-the terrific pressure of a multiplicity of hydraulic pistons, actuated to obtain high density.

The invention comprehencls broadly the provision in a railway car of a cotton compress, re-- ceiving its supply of lint cotton from gins in an adjacent railway car and having means for primarily tramping the inflow preparatory to exerting the initial pressure, with auxiliary means for increasing such pressure to the extent desired to produce a bale, and further the'invention is provided with means, through the medium of which the bale is released from the boxes and conveyed from the car after having been tied out.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particular reference'primarily to its adaptability for use in a railway cotton ginning system and further, to its salient features of construction and arrangement of parts which will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a freight car with one side and the side walls removed, showing the assembly'embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational viewthe freight car being shown diagrammatically.

Figure 3 is a plan view.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of one of the hydraulic plungers.

Figure 5 is an end view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail View of the sole plate or guide for holding the rams or hydraulic plungers' against displacement.

Figures 7 and 8 are detail views of the platens zolaims. (01. -19) to be disposed in either end of the press one of which is arranged to be fitted to the sole plate shown inFigure -6.

Figure 9 is a plan view of a modified form of the press shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive.

Figure 10 is a side elevational view.

Figure 11 is a view on lines 11-11 of Figure 9.

Figure 12 illustrates diagrammatically the press operating equipment, and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary view in perspective, showing the eccentric means for relieving pressure on the sides of the tying out compartment preparatory to removing a compressed bale.

Figure 1415 an enlarged view showing a fragmentary detail of the press shown in Figure 10; further illustrating the dogs for retaining the compressed bale in the compression compartment.

With the advent of more modern cotton handling machinery and equipment, follows the necessity for means for transporting such machinery from place to place in order that localities which are lacking in facilities for reducing the cotton to a commercial product may be served, thereby minimizing the cost to the farmer in such localities in having his product properly handled. A complete ginnery, mounted for convenient transportation is of considerable advantage not only to the cotton grower who is unavailed of ginning facilities, but is likewise of greater importance to the industry generally in that it is effective in encouraging those who would not ordinarily be inclined to do so, to raise cotton in localities where ginning facilities are not available, yet where the climatic conditions are ideal for growing high grade cotton. It is a well known fact that facilities for handling cotton show little improvement during the past fifty years. Production has increased, yet labor saving devices have not shown an advancement proportionately. The present day method of handling cotton, by pressing at the ginnery, then transferring to a location for additional densitycompression, is expensive and subjects shipping to a needless and troublesome delay. All cotton authorities agree and seek a method of gin compression. The round bale press in limited use today, is a great advancement; yet due to thefact that the greater part of the spinning machinery of the world is adapted only to handling square bale cotton, gin compression of square bale cotton now becomes a necessity. It is true that by reason of service available through the medium of a transportable ginning system, the cotton farmer is capable of realizing greater profit and revenues from his crop, due to the fact that the operator of the system is able to gin cotton at a lower cost. The saving in time alone of handling bale cotton for shipment with its various added charges today, can not be estimated.

The present invention, in order to properly cooperate with such a system as briefly mentioned in the foregoing, must be of compact and durable construction and of such shape as to fit into the conventional freight car, yet allowing sufficient space to accommodate suitable operating equipment, which equipment includes a multiplicity of hydraulic rams and plungers, a.

pump and an accumulator by which the pump pressure may be increased manifold.

Accordingly, the invention is comprised of a frame structure having cross-heads 1 at either end, of substantially rectangular shape, through either corner of which extends tie rods 2. Through the medium of this structure the required amount of strength and stability is obtained to withstand the terrific strain imposed upon the elements when cotton is compressed to a density of approximately 25 pounds to the cubic foot. The conventional bale, has an average density of approximately 12 pounds to the cubic foot and the approximate dimensions of such a halo are 2731542150 inches, while the approximate density of a bale produced by the compress herein described is 2ex56x3o inches. Obviously, such a bale is much more easily handled, in view of its compactness and is recognized in the industry as a standard density compressed bale. It is with this in view that the invention seeks to provide for convenience in handling the cotton, a compress occupying but little space, yet having all of the prerequisites of turning out compressed bales of standard size. Obviously, the compress of this character, in order to conveniently operate within the confined area of a freight car must be of extremely strong and durable construction.

The frame is divided into two compartments, designated at A and B as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Compartment A receives the cotton from the condenser 3, through the chute 1. The flue '5 extends into an adjacent car, in which is situated a battery of standard gins, and through this flue there is a steady stream of lint cotton flowing into the condenser 3 and enters the com-.

partment A through the chute 4, which latter is actuated to control the feed through the medium of a motor 6 and belt drive connection with a pulley '7 mounted on a shaft 8 to which the said chute 4 is pivotally connected. A closure 9 is provided for the compartment A and is actuated by means of the cylinder and plunger assembly 10 which receives air pressure through the pipe 11 connected with the air tank 12. Through the medium of this plunger which is pivotally suspended from the ceiling of the car, the closure 9 is urged to confine the cotton in the compartment A, after the feed has been cut off, preparatory to compressing the material so fed into the compartment A into the compartment B by means of a series of hydraulically operated plungers contained within the cylinders 13, disposed horizontally whereby the plungers are reciprocated through both the compartments A and B and to which reference will be later made.

Compartment B in which the cotton is compressed has a closure 14, shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, and which closure remains normally closed during operation of the press and is locked in closed position by means of a latch '15. As the required density is obtained by actuating the plungers in the cylinders 13, conventional ties are slid through the channels 0', provided therefor and which ties are drawn around the bale and secured together. A lever 16 is moved to release eccentrics 1'7, which normally bear against the sides of the compartment 3, to relieve the pressure and allow the bale to be removed after the closure 14 has been unlocked and raised. I

The shaft carrying the eccentrics 17 is supported by the centrally disposed bearing member 16a whose upper and lower ends are secured to the frame of the press while the channel members 1% opposite the bearing 16a are aiiixed to the side walls of the press and against which the cocentrics bear upon rotation of the shaft.

The pistons contained within the cylinders 13 are preferably operated by hydraulic pressure,

the fluid being conveyed to the cylinders 13 through pipes 18 which have connection with the fluid supply tank 19, accumulator 20 and pump 21 operated by a motor 22. A three way valve 23 is provided for controlling the movement of the fluid, that is to say, for increasing, and decreasing the pressure applied to the fluid to increase and decrease the pressure of the plungers upon the material. The plungers are first actuated with a normal pump pressure, the valve 23 being soadjusted that the fluid from tank 19 will be conveyed through pipes 18 and 18a into the cylinders. After the compartment B has been filled to capacity, the pressure of the fluid is multiplied by actuating valve 23 to eifect operation of the accumulator as shown in the diagram in Figure 12.

The foregoing description deals with one form of the invention as particularly adapted for use in connection with a transportable cotton ginning system and further, with the-operating equipment for a compress of this character. The compress shown in Figures 4 to 11 inclusive, while equally as effective in compressing cotton in the manner described in the foregoing, may also be used for a stationary ginning system and is substantially the same as that shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, with the exception of the outside frame which bears the same reference character as that applied to the frame shown in Figure 1.

With reference to Figures 9 and 10, the frame 1 of the compress is shown to be constructed of channel iron having circular ends to receive the semi-circular platens 24. This channel iron frame is composed of one piece of material and encircles the ends to insure maximum strength to withstand the terrific pressure applied by the plungers 25, contained within the cylinders 13 as shown in Figure 12.

Cylinders 13 are provided ice with heads 26, which heads are disposed inwardly of the platens 24, hence the cylinders 13 are held against any possible displacement when the plungers are actuated against the material in platen is provided with lugs 23b which are re- 1 ceived operatively in recesses 230 shown in dotted linesin Figure 6. This relationship is effective in rigidifying the structure at the left end of the frame shown in Figures 9 and 10 on the portion of the frame where theplungers or rams 13-and 27 enter the same. It is understood that any structural reinforcement may be substituted for this particular arrangement with perhaps equally as effective results.

In Figure 8, the platen shown is intended for use in the frame shown in Figures 9 and 10 opposite the platen shown in Figure 7 and its weight is lessened materially by reason of the webs or cavities 23a in the casting without impairing its strength.

With particular reference to the plunger assembly, it is pointed out that while only three cylinders are illustrated, more may be found to be necessary under certain conditions especially where greater compression density may be required. The intermediate cylinder 27 shown in Figure 8 is an air cylinder and receives its source of air pressure through the pipe 28, shown in Figures 1 and 3 from the tank 12. The pump 29 operated by motor 30 supplies air to the tank 12 through pipe 31. This air cylinder, which is smaller than the opposing hydraulic cylinders has a capacity of approximately 100 pounds and serves as an auxiliary tramper, for initially urging the material from the compartment A into the compartment B preparatory to the compressing action of the hydraulic cylinders 13.

The foregoing operation is continued until a sufficient amount of the material is urged into the compartment B, whereupon valve 23 is opened to supply fluid pressure to the cylinders 13 through pipe 18. Plungers 25 are thereby actuated to apply a terrific pressure against the material contained within the compartment B, it being understood that the material previously urged thereinto is constrained against displacement by means of dogs 33, which dogs are normally maintained by gravity in a position at the mouth of compartment B to retain the material therein when the plungers retire into the cylinders 13. In Figures 10 and 14 it will be noted that the lowermost dogs 33 are provided with a counterbalance 34 and necessarily so in order that they will lie normally in the position shown for operative position.

The average pressure required to compress a bale of cotton to the density mentioned in the foregoing is approximately 6000 pounds, but it is frequently necessary to increase such pressure and in order to do so the accumulator 20 shown in Figure 12 is provided wherein is contained the Weight 35 surrounding the inlet guide 36, which latter has ports 37 to admit fluid into the area 38 through the pipe 18. When it is required to increase the pressure on the fluid beyond the capacity of the pump 21, valve 23 is actuated to release the flow of the fluid from the accumulator, allowing it to enter cylinders 13, ther by multiplying the pressure already applied through the medium of the pump 21. Suitable packing 39 is provided around the inlet guide 36.

After the material in compartment B has been compressed to the desired density, conventional cotton bale ties are slid into the slots or groove a and urged completely around the bale and the opposite ends secured together. The bale is thus secured against expansion when the lever 16 is actuated to move the eccentrics 17 from their position against the side walls of compartment B. When this operation is completed, latch 15 is released and closure 14 raised to allow the bale therein to be removed, which is accomplished in the present case by means of an overhead crane 40, shown in Figure 1.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is considered within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cotton compress, the combination comprising a bale box having axially alined compartments having open ends providing communication therebetween, a reinforcing frame having sides extending alongside movable walls of said bale box and having semi-circular ends defining substantially semi-circular areas at the ends of said bale box, platens arranged to be conformably received in said areas to absorb the strain to which said bale box is subjected, a shaft mounted on said frame and carrying eccentric means movable against the side Walls of said bale box to hold said walls against expansion during a baling operation, a cover for the baling compartment of said bale bo-X, means for looking said cover'in closed position, a pair of hydraulic cylinders arranged in parallel relationship and having their operative ends disposed within the receiving compartments of said bale box, said cylinders having pistons provided with enlarged heads and entering said latter compartment, a relatively small cylinder disposed intermediate said first cylinders and provided with a piston also entering said latter compartment, a closure for said latter compartment, hydraulic means disposed above and operatively connected with said closure for holding said closure against the resistance of cotton projected intosaid receiving compartment by said intermediate cylinder and piston assembly preparatory to its compression by said first cylinder and piston assembly and means disposed forwardly and at right angles to the operative path of said pistons for retaining cotton urged into said baling compartment during compression thereof by said first cylinder and piston assembly.

2. In a cotton compress, the combination including a bale box having axially alined compartments provided with a communicating opening, one of said compartments having laterally movable side walls, hinged members constitutj ing closures for each of said compartments, hydraulic means disposed above and operatively connected to said closures for urging the closure of said first compartment to closed position against the resistance of cotton projected thereinto, a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies arranged in parallel relationship and having their ends alined with said first compartment, the pistons of said assemblies being arranged to project into said first compartment, a third cylinder and piston assembly disposed between said first cylinder and piston assemblies for initially compressing the cotton received in said first compartment preparatory to its compression by said first cylinder and piston assem- 

